Special Events Manager - Maternity Cover

Special Events Manager

Salary £34,420.90 per annum actual salary for 22.5 hours

Hours of work 22.5 hours a week (over a minimum of three days). Flexibility to work over a four five days

Base Hybrid working for the foreseeable future, with attendance in the office two days a week (one day per week if working week is three days) including one day being a Thursday at our central office:

Pears Building, Pond Street, London, NW3 2PP

Other office days may be worked from our other sites at:

Barnet Hospital, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, EN5 3DJ

Chase Farm Hospital, 127 The Ridgeway, Enfield, EN2 8JL

Contract Fixed term maternity cover (12 months)

Commencement This role will commence from the first week of December 2025 until December 2026

The role

This maternity cover role is to deliver a programme of cultivation and stewardship events to engage new and existing major donors (individuals, trusts and corporates) and to contribute to the delivery of fundraising budgets by delivering events that enable a sector leading supporter experience.

The postholder line manages the special events coordinator and plays a key role in team culture, operational refinement, and cross-functional collaboration.

The Special Events Manager will report to the Head of Philanthropy and Capital Campaigns.

The team

Our dynamic fundraising department generated £4.5m through donations in 2023/24, and we are now preparing for an ambitious multi-million-pound campaign in support of a ground-breaking cancer centre on the site of the Royal Free Hospital.

We pride ourselves on being a supporter focused and agile function, working at the heart of the charity to deliver impact for patients and staff across our hospitals.

Responsible for attracting and retaining donors, and delivering an outstanding supporter experience, the fundraising department comprises two teams which work closely together to achieve our shared objectives:

Our philanthropy & campaigns team builds relationships with individual philanthropists, trusts, foundations, corporate organisations and intermediaries, giving or facilitating donations of £10,000 or more to the charity each year. They lead major appeal activity for the charity, currently focused on our forthcoming cancer campaign, and special events to support these activities.

Our public fundraising team harnesses the support and energy of individuals and groups, helping them to give back in the way that works for them. This includes committed giving, in memory support, gifts in wills, and fundraising events and challenges.

Our database and supporter care colleagues underpin and support the entire department.

Organisation

The Royal Free Charity stands at the threshold of its most important period of development.

Our vision is for everyone served by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) to have access to world-leading healthcare, delivered by a thriving workforce, and driven by medical research that has a global impact. We support the 17,000 staff of the RFL and their two million patients across Barnet, Chase Farm, North Mid and Royal Free hospitals and more than 30 NHS services.

Through the services we provide, and the programmes and equipment we fund, we make a profound and immediate difference to patients experiences of care.

The recruitment process

To apply for this post, send your:

• CV (please include your last employer and dates of employment)
• Cover letter addressing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description and person specification

Please note, that applications submitted without a cover letter may not be considered for this role.

Closing date for application: Tuesday 21 October 2025, 12 noon

Interview date: Monday 3 November 2025

Please kindly note that we may close the job advert before the closing date if we receive a large volume of applications.

• You must be eligible to work in the UK

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may require during the recruitment process.

As an equal opportunities employer, the Royal Free Charity is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Royal Free Charity and act in line with our values of dedication, innovation, partnership, energy and respect.

Benefits:

Core benefits

25 days of paid holiday, plus three-day office closure rest period between Christmas and New Year, and UK bank holidays. This increases to 30 days leave after five completed years of continuous employment (all leave is pro rata for part time employees).

A contributory pension scheme, where we match your 4% contribution towards your pension. If you choose to increase your payments into your pension scheme, we ll match your contribution up to 9%.

A sick pay package that offers one month s full pay and one month s half pay in any 12-month period if you ve been with us for less than two years. This rises to two months full pay and two months half pay in any 12-month period after two years of continuous employment.

Occupational maternity pay and paternity pay packages that provide more generous support than statutory pay alone.

A flexible working policy to support our employees work/life balance.

Support for your financial wellbeing

As a member of the Royal Free family, you ll be entitled to benefit from:

Expert financial advice from our financial partner, the London Credit Union

Savings on purchases with the Blue Light Card

Our Death in Service benefit

Support for your health and wellbeing

Subsidised gym, pool and classes at our Rec Club in Hampstead

Secure bicycle parking and shower facilities at our Hampstead site

Fortnightly guided meditation

Free massage therapy from our complementary therapy team

Menopause peer support group

Employee Assistance Programme offering 24-hour access to free confidential advice and support on work and personal issues.